In 1988 the ‘New York Accord’ was signed ending a 22 year war for Namibian independence from South Africa.
Namibia was known as South West Africa when the Germans took possession of the country in the First World War and when it ended the League of Nations entrusted control of the area to South Africa. But when South Africa started its apartheid government in 1948 it started oppression of the black majority, both in South Africa and South West Africa. The League of Nations had been resolved at the end of World War II but was replaced soon after by the United Nations. Due to the atrocities carried out by the South African government, the United Nations dissolved South Africa’s control of South West Africa and declared it was now under the administration of the UN. South Africa refused to acknowledge this change of power and war began between a guerrilla movement called the ‘South-West African People’s Organisation’ (SWAPO) and the South African government. The first conflict for their independence started on the 26th of August 1966 and so the 26th of August has become their Hero’s Day. After 22 years of fighting, their war for independence officially ended with the signing of the ‘New York Accord’ on the 22nd of December 1988. Their Independence became official on this day in 1990 with the elections that saw the SWAPO win and become the first leaders elected by the people of Namibia for almost 80 years.
In 1987 Robert Mugabe assumed office as President of Zimbabwe
On the 30th of October 1888 head of the British South Africa Company, Cecil Rhodes (with the signing of the Rudd concession) gained exclusive rights to diamond mines in the area that would become Rhodesia (and now Zimbabwe) from King Lobengula of the Ndebele people. Soon after a white settlement was built and in 1895 the area became known as Rhodesia after Cecil.
In 1923 Rhodesia became gained its own parliament and became a British Colony with the parliament consisting of white settlers and their descendants.
In 1965 the United Kingdom were considering granting independence to Rhodesia on the bases of a democratic government. On the 11th of November 1965 the Prime Minister of Rhodesia, Mr Ian Smith, illegally declared independence from the United Kingdom in an attempt to keep control of the country in the hands of the white minority (220,000 white residents compared to 4 million Black residents). Prime Minister Ian Smith wanted acceptance from the international community but this was not the case. The declaration of Independence was condemned by the UN, and the US and UK placed sanctions on the country. On this day in 1970 Mr Smith continued his attempts to keep control of Rhodesia by declaring it a republic claiming that it would bring international recognition. It just brought more condemnation from the international community and Rhodesia became an unrecognised state during Ian Smiths reign as Prime Minister. Fighting began later in the 1970’s between the government and a black majority movement. This led to the end of Ian Smith as Prime Minister when Abel Muzorewa became Prime Minister of Rhodesia-Zimbabwe, as it was known, on this day in 1979. Robert Mugabe was seen as a hero for the country’s independence and spent 10 years in prison during Ian Smiths government. Mugabe was elected as Prime Minister on the 18th of April 1980 when the country was renamed Zimbabwe and declared independence, which was internationally recognised. In 1981 Mugabe initiated a one party political system and assumed office as President of Zimbabwe on the 22nd of December 1987 and has been continually re-elected. Many human rights atrocities have been attributed to Robert Mugabe’s government.
